Since the war between Russia and Ukraine began, and Putin threatened to turn off the gas tap to Europe, Germany has been facing a difficult time. The German country is testing different measures to combat the energy crisis that is expected to worsen during the winter. Public buildings can only be heated up to 19 degrees and it is forbidden to heat most private pools. Billboards and some monuments will go dark at 10pm and the government has even extended the life of two of its last nuclear reactors.
Everything is to save. Now, the great debate goes hand in hand with mobility. Several parties advocate putting a general speed limit on highways, something that could save gasoline and reduce carbon dioxide emissions at the same time.
the german debate. Before getting into the matter, it should be noted that many of the highways in Germany (the famous autobahnn) have no speed limits. In fact, this issue has been the protagonist in hundreds of controversies in the country. So untouchable is the absence of restrictions that when a Czech driver posted a video going over 250 km/h on YouTube, prosecutors were unable to press charges.
But now, with the current mood from the oil crisis and rising prices, a possible change could happen. But even with the Greens in power, it’s still pretty unlikely. In this power struggle, the FDP is against it and Chancellor Olaf Scholz has so far rejected a speed limit with reference to the coalition agreement.
people want it. In April, as Germany was racking its brains to reduce its energy dependence on Russia, Ricarda Lang, co-leader of the Greens, proposed a speed limit to help save gasoline, the so-called tempolimit. While the idea was rejected by the coalition, a recent poll by Der Spiegel magazine suggests that 55% of Germans support the idea, albeit temporary, with 39% against.
How much is saved? The Ministry of the Environment announced that if a limit of 100 kilometers per hour were established on motorways, the 48 million German cars could save 2,100 million liters of fuel each year. It would also save 5.4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, about 3% of all CO2 emitted by transportation. On the other hand, on highways where there are no speed restrictions, there are 75% more fatal accidents than on sections that do have speed limits.
car free sundays. Another of the measures discussed are the so-called car-free Sundays. A concept that was first applied in Germany during the 1973 oil crisis. At that time, the Willy Brandt government established four car-free Sundays and Germans were prohibited from driving without a special allowance. “They have not harmed us in the past and could also make a contribution today if the corresponding shortage requires it,” said Nina Scheer, spokeswoman for energy policy for the SPD parliamentary group.
A trend in Europe. The debate is also lived throughout the continent. In fact, the daily Financial Times public a letter signed by expertsincluding a director of the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) highlighting the benefits of lowering speed limits to reduce imports of Russian oil. You have to remember that The Netherlands has already reduced the limit on its highways at 100 km/h to stop pollution. And Brussels and Paris have taken steps in the same direction in recent years.
In Spain. Also here we have our own experience of speed cuts. Eleven years ago, the Government led by José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero decided to apply a “temporary reduction” on highways and dual carriageways and lower the limit from 120 to 110 km/h. The objective was exactly the same as now: “save gasoline” in the face of rising prices. The initiative was applied for four months and, although it managed to reduce consumption, it did not achieve the expected results: the use of gasoline fell by 8%.
At the moment, the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) now rejects that it is going to reduce speed limits on the roads. They point out that this measure will not be carried out because Spain has recently experienced “a time of limitation” of mobility with confinements and restrictions due to the pandemic, and because “the Spanish driver is already mature and knows what he has to do to save fuel ” if “it runs a little less”.
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